Nebraska prosecutor: No evidence connects Jiron to parents' case

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A Nebraska prosecutor says he has found no evidence to connect a Vermont prosecutor to a case in which parents were stopped with what authorities said was 60 pounds of marijuana in their car.

Chittenden County Deputy State's Attorney Justin Jiron is the son of the couple who was apprehended by members of the York County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska. York County Attorney Chris Johnson said he has not received any information from police to say that Jiron could have been involved.

"I have no reason to question his credibility," Johnson said Thursday.

Patrick Jiron, 80, and his wife, Barbara, 70, of Clearlake Oaks, California, were apprehended following a traffic stop Dec. 19 on Interstate 80 in York, Nebraska. They told police they intended to distribute the bags of marijuana as gifts to relatives in Vermont and Boston, the York County Sheriff's Department said.

Justin Jiron has worked at the Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office for 15 years. He has been the sole chief deputy under Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George since January.

Johnson said he heard about the case's connection to the Vermont prosecutor through media reports. He said he has not been contacted by Vermont authorities.

On Wednesday, Sarah George said Justin Jiron would remain on full duty as she had no reason to believe Justin Jiron was involved in his parents' case. However, she declined to comment on how she determined the extent of the connection, citing the ongoing Nebraska case.

Marijuana seized in Nebraska from a pickup truck owned by Patrick Jiron, 80, and his wife, Barbara, 70, is seen in this photo released by the York County Sheriff's Department on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017. Police say the couple was on their way to Vermont and Boston to give the drugs to friends and family as Christmas gifts.(Photo: COURTESY YORK COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT)

On Thursday, George said she had tried to get in touch with the York County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska, but had not yet spoken to the lead investigator. She declined to comment further.

Free Press attempts to reach Sheriff Dale Radcliff of the York County Sheriff's Office were unsuccessful.

Patrick Jiron, 80, of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., is seen in this photo released by the York County (Nebraska) Sheriff's Department on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017.(Photo: COURTESY YORK COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT)

Johnson said he could not release information about how or where the couple had obtained the marijuana. Patrick and Barbara Jiron told the authorities they were unaware it was illegal to transport the drugs across Nebraska, police have said. Police placed the street value of the marijuana in excess of $300,000.

The elder Jirons received citations on suspicion of possessing marijuana with the intent to deliver. They are scheduled for court hearings in January. They have not commented on the allegations, and court papers do not reflect whether either has retained counsel.

Attempts to reach Justin Jiron since Friday have been unsuccessful.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.